Tent-roof frame



:Aprill6, 1929. FRA-K 1,709,568

TENT ROOF FRAME Filed April 12, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR I fiber/AF ran ATTORNEY April 16, 1929. A, L, FRANK 1,709,568

- TENT ROOF FRAME Filed April 12, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR B JZ/ber/L. Frank ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 16, 1929. p

1,709,568 PATENT (OFFICE.

ALBERT L. FRANK, OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, ASSIGNOR TO SEATTLETENT & AVJN- ING COMPANY, OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, A CORPORATION OF WASHINGTON.

TENT-ROOF FRAME.

' Application filed April 12,

This invention relates to'frame structures for canopies or the roofs of tents, The object of my invention, generally, is the 1mprovement of aframeof this character.

A specific object is to provide fora canopy a frame which is strong and rlgid and which maybe readily applied without the use of skilled labor. I

Another specific object of the'invention 1s to provide a frame'for the roof of a tentand which is capable of supporting the same without the use of any post inside of the tent or between sides thereof.

Another specific object is to provide a frame which is peculiarly adapted to a canopy of a hip-roof design, andwhich may be supported upon. two posts disposed at opposite sides respectively of the frame;

Another specific object is to provide an efficient foldable frame for a canopy or tent-roof. I

Other specific objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the following 7 description.

The invention consists in the novel construction, adaptation and combination of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings,.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of aframe embodying my invention, illustrated in operative relation with a fabric canopy which is shown partly broken away ;v Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the frame shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view on line 33 of Fig. 4:; and Fig. 4 is an underside plan view of the frame shown in Fig. 3 in its spread-out condition.

According to the present invention, I provide a frame composed ofa ridge member 5, rafter members 6 extending from opposite sides of the ridge member, and braces .7 connecting the rafters and ridge member in v the angles thereof at opposite sides of the respective rafters.

As shown, the plane of the rafters 6 is arranged at right angles to the plane of the ridge member 5. The braces 7 are disposed in angular relations, preferably of 45, with respect to both the ridge and rafter members whereby the assembly of braces constitute the sides of a substantially square figv ure.

The rafter 6 and two braces 7 at each side of the ridge 'member 5, and hereinafter termed a frame section, are secured together 1928. Serial No. 269,389.

as by means of platessecured to the undersides of the braces 8 with apertured extensions 9 which in each section overlap to re ceive a coupling bolt 10 extending upwardly through the associated rafter. v

Each of said rafters 6 and the braces 7 have secured by bolts 11 tothe under side of its inner end a plate 12 which protrudes as an apertured ear 13 beyond the adjacent end of the respective member. These ear portions 13 are arranged in vertical planes and constitute'hinge elements with respect to complementary. hinge elements 14: which depend from plate elements 15 secured to the underside of the ridge member5 by means of bolts 15 The complementary hinge elements 13 and 14 of the several frame'memhers are pivotally connected by axially aligned. pins or bolts 16 whereby a frame section-composed of a rafter and two braces at one side of the ridge member may be swung as a single piece downwardly to fold against-the other section.

Near its outer end each of the rafters is provided with a holeas 17, Figs. 3 and 4.-

to recess a stud 18 projecting upwardly from apost 19, one at each side of the frame, and I upon the top of which posts the frame is supported.

distended position by means-of stay ropes 2O connectingthe upper ends of the posts. or their studs 18 as in Fig. 2, with suitable securements (not shown) such, for example, as pegs driven into the ground.

The distension of the frame is limited by a The frame thus engaging the. studs 18 at its opposite sides is held in its means of a tie member 21 connected at its ends with the outer ends of the rafters.

This tie member may consist of a wire cable having loops at its ends to receive coupling bolts 22 provided in rafter attachments 23; or, as shown, of a cable having one end thereof connected to the attachment 23 of one rafter and its other end connected to the attachment 23 of the other rafter through the medium of an adjustable take-up device indicated generally by 24 in'Fig. 2.

'In use, the frame serves as a support for the central portion of a tent-roof or canopy 25 (Fig. 1) the ridge member 5 of the frame occupying the ridge fold of the tent roof fabric; and the frame sections, which are hingedly connected to the ridge member,

supporting the sloping sides 26 of the roof.

With a hip roof as illustrated in Fig. 1, the ridge member should be of a length equal to that of the fabric, or substantially so, in order to furnish supports for the fabric at the apexes 27 of the diverging edges 28 at the sides of the sloping end portions 29 of the roof. In practice, the corners of the roof may advantageously be supported upon posts 80, or an equivalent.

7 The invention and the manner of using the same will, it is thought be understood from the foregoin description oft-he embodiment now prefeued by me.

hat I claim, is,

' 1. In a roof supporting construction, the combination with apair of laterally spaced apart posts having studs protruding upwardly therefrom, of a frame comprising a ridge member, a rafter at each side of the ridge member, said rafters being provided near their lower ends with apertures to re; ceive said post studs, the upper ends ofthe rafters being hingedly connected to said ridge member, braces connecting the rafters to the ridge member atboth sides thereof, and means for securing the frame in its adjusted relation.

2. In an' adjustable roof construction, a frame comprising a ridge member, rafters provided at opposite sides of said ridge member and hingedly connected thereto, braces rigidly secured to said rafters and hinged'ly connected to the ridge member for movement with the respective rafters, and means including adjustable devices for regulating the spread of the rafter.

3. In a roof-supporting construction, a

ridge member disposed longitudinally of the roof, a pair. of rafters arranged at right angles to the plane of said ridge member centrally of the length thereof, a brace connecting the rafters at each side thereof with the ridge member in close proximity to the ends of the latter, and means provided at the lower ends of said pair of rafters for connecting the same to a wall post at each side of the roof.

Signed at Seattle, Washington, this 2nd day of April,1928.

' ALBERT L'FRANK. 

